Chapter 712: All Immortal Matters

"Thank you, True Lord!" Ding Weizeng's voice was respectful. He was a robust man with a swallow-like jaw and a bushy beard. His single bow, though silent, was more sincere than a long string of flattering words from others, earning a nod from the old True Lord.

After Ding Weizeng bowed, Su Mian smiled without speaking. The subsequent conversation was not for his ears, so Li Ximing waved his hand, sending him off, and sincerely said:

"First, my thanks to True Lord Qi. It hasn't been long since my breakthrough, and my family's teachings forbid me from dealing with blood-energy, so I'm ill-suited to handle such matters and unskilled in this path. It's not like your marvelous divine abilities, which you can use effortlessly."

"Zhaojing, you jest," Su Mian replied, shaking his head as he poured tea.

"If Zhaojing wished, healing his injuries wouldn't be difficult at all. I merely had the convenience of my divine abilities."

He poured tea for both of them. Outside the courtyard, a cold, clear rain began to fall. Chang Xi looked at Li Ximing with a complex gaze, pressing a finger on his teacup, seemingly to calm himself.

"Zhaojing's spirited demeanor reminds me of myself over three hundred years ago. It truly evokes many emotions."

Chang Xi was actually not yet five hundred years old, only a little over four hundred and fifty. Li Ximing had long harbored doubts about the lifespan of Purple Mansion cultivators. After a slight pause, he asked:

"Even if one cannot transcend after achieving divine abilities, it's still regrettable not to enjoy a thousand years of life. Five hundred years seems insufficient for cultivation."

Su Mian smiled wistfully and replied:

"Zhaojing, you've asked a good question. I too had this question in my younger days. Our lineage records a few words on the matter, which I can share with you."

"Lifespan, fundamentally, consists of two aspects: physical lifespan and spiritual lifespan. The former refers to the vitality of the physical body, while the latter is tied to one's destiny. We cultivators of the Purple Mansion Golden Core path focus on cultivating this very body, with our souls confined within our physical form. Therefore, our physical lifespan often seems inexhaustible, but we ultimately perish when our destiny is fulfilled and our soul withers."

Li Ximing seemed to grasp the meaning. Chang Xi chuckled:

"Look at the monks in the north; they cultivate destiny. Although their physical lifespan is short, they simply change bodies when it's exhausted and continue living. Precisely because they cultivate destiny, they compassionately switch bodies every hundred years or so. Although they have to re-cultivate their Dharmakaya, living for over a thousand years is not an issue, right up until their destiny is depleted."

"Indeed!" Su Mian interjected, saying:

"So, it shouldn't actually be called 'lifespan of five hundred years,' but rather 'destiny-lifespan of five hundred years.' Before the Heavenly Change, these were recorded on the Underworld Registrar's list—'Such-and-such a cultivator, due so many years of life,' and so on... I've even heard that back then, there were instances of bribing the Underworld Registrar to extend one's lifespan."

Chang Xi sighed:

"After the Heavenly Change, the Underworld became inaccessible, and everyone's lifespan became fixed. Purple Mansion cultivators are allotted five hundred years. Those who cultivate 'destiny' divine abilities can live a bit longer, and soul-seizing offers another path. But my type of divine ability... naturally means waiting for death."

Li Ximing pondered for a moment and asked:

"What about cultivating the Qi and nurturing the Dao?"

"Ancient immortal cultivation is naturally excellent! If you achieve divine abilities and have a complete destiny, you can live a very long time!" Su Mian let out a laugh and replied:

"But how many can truly achieve it? Look at the Wang and Xie families, hidden away in their vast grotto-heavens. Among tens of millions of mortals, are there even ten cultivators? Can one in a thousand achieve divine abilities? If you were to cultivate that lineage, not to mention whether you could find the immortal secrets, perhaps only one or two children would emerge from the entire Moon Lake region, barely capable of conjuring a little rain with their magic."

Li Ximing nodded in agreement, drank his tea, and replied:

"Is the old True Lord still stable in your territory?"

Su Mian understood that he was asking about the White Ye Metropolitan Immortal Sect, and said:

"Let Zhaojing know, I've always been stable by the sea. Yu Ming of the Shen family, Ming Hui of Lotus Temple in Lu region... all have some friendly ties with me. Even Ye Hui of the Metropolitan Immortal Sect and Chang Yun of the Chengyun Gate have come to pay their respects."

As soon as these words were spoken, Su Mian's meaning became clear. His Xuanniao Temple had no ambitions, and Su Mian did not wish for any trouble in his later years. Maintaining stable relations with his neighbors was the righteous path for Su Mian.

As for the current tense situation between Chang Xi, the Li family, and the Metropolitan Immortal Sect, Su Mian naturally wished to avoid involvement. He glanced at the two and added:

"Having now agreed to Chang Xi's request to look after the Xuanyue Immortal Sect, I will naturally uphold my promise."

Li Ximing was not surprised by this, and mused:

"When I broke through to the Purple Mansion, this True Lord Ye Hui did not come to congratulate me. It would have been fine if he simply didn't come, but he even mocked me without cause. I wonder how I offended him."

"I also understand that the Metropolitan Immortal Sect of Baiye is blocked to the north by the Chengyun Gate, and Chang Yun is not to be underestimated. To the east is the revered Xuanniao Temple, to the south is Xuanyue, and to the west are the Three Sects of Mianfan... This naturally creates an adversarial relationship with my family... But there's no need to show one's fangs so early."

The Qingchi behind the Li family was coveted. Not only Ye Hui knew this and thus developed covetousness, Su Mian and Chang Xi also knew. They exchanged a glance, and Su Mian sighed:

"There is one thing Zhaojing doesn't know... This Ye Hui originally obtained an opportunity in the Douxuan Grotto-Heaven. His ability to enter that Grotto-Heaven largely relied on Divine Ability Guo's patronage... Earlier, during the dispute between the East and West islands of Chijiao Island, some people were wary of his friendship with Divine Ability Guo... which is why they didn't touch East Island."

Li Ximing finally understood, sighing inwardly:

"In the end... it still comes down to the enmity with Chijiao! No wonder he's so merciless; the conflict between Chijiao's direct lineage and my family is truly complex!"

As he was thinking this, Chang Xi's voice dropped significantly, imbued with a hint of coldness:

"I heard that opportunity was obtained by Ling Shu! That fellow is despicable! When Zhang Ling Shu died, he was highly suspect!"

Li Ximing found the name Zhang Ling Shu familiar. After a moment's thought, he recalled that Li Xizhi's Long Sky Peak lineage had been broken from Zhang Ling Shu's line, and Zhang Ling Shu had originally been a Qingchi Peak Master.

Su Mian shook his head with a touch of awkwardness and advised:

"This matter is hard to clarify. Haiying ultimately did not marry Ling Shu, so you can't really fault him."

"Alas!" Chang Xi sighed deeply. Li Ximing, however, felt a slight shock in his heart. Haiying was, of course, Kong Haiying, the Kong family's Purple Mansion seed currently in seclusion for a breakthrough. From their conversation, it sounded like Kong Haiying and Zhang Ling Shu had almost become cultivation partners!

"This is also a great enmity... I fear that if Chang Xi were to die, if I were Ye Hui, I would surely invade the wilderness... I wouldn't stop until Xuanyue was shaken to its core, eventually attacking Xuanyue itself, and wouldn't rest until Kong Haiying's breakthrough was ruined!"

This was almost like the great vengeance of killing one's spouse. Ye Hui himself understood the gravity of it, so Chang Xi was naturally even more worried.

"So that's what it was!" Li Ximing was displeased by Chang Xi's previous concealment, but speaking out now would be inappropriate. Moreover, his own family's enmity with Ye Hui was now clearer and seemed hard to resolve. He simply lowered his head and drank his tea.

Chang Xi had been observing him, feeling awkward himself, and quickly moved on without dwelling on it. Su Mian, also a man of several centuries, immediately added:

"Zhaojing, do you know... Ye Hui cultivates the Metropolitan Guard lineage, from the ancient times of mergers. It's an ancient Daoist tradition of expelling ghosts, overseeing mountains, and summoning spirits to guard waters. Its origins are ancient, and he has cultivated three divine abilities, making him not to be underestimated."

Li Ximing had only just learned about the Metropolitan Guard lineage. If Xiao Ruyu hadn't mentioned Xiao Yongling and said his Dongyu Mountain followed this path, the Li family would barely have heard of it. Wishing to ease the atmosphere, he asked:

"This junior's knowledge is shallow; I have never before encountered the Metropolitan Guard lineage. I ask for your guidance, Senior."

"Actually, there are many in Jiangnan," Su Mian said with a smile. "The Metropolitan Guard's Dao Fruit position has been vacant for many years, making it seem somewhat lacking in power. Before reaching the Purple Mansion, it doesn't have any special qualities. Most are Dao foundations of mountain and water spirits, common in Jiangnan, but too difficult to recognize. Most cultivators mistakenly classify them as substitutes for Earth Virtue, Water Virtue, or High Witchcraft rituals, failing to recognize their true nature."

"Xiao family's famous Dongyu Mountain, the Soul Descent arts favored by the Shanyue, and the Nangou Water of the Lin Valley family all belong to this path. More famous ones... are not in Jiangnan, such as Xitianyuan of the Baiqiang and Beimoting of the Great Desert Di tribe..."

These words were indeed reasonable. The Li family had also once believed Dongyu Mountain was an Earth Virtue Dao foundation, and only recently learned about this lineage. Chang Xi was clearly touched and spoke:

"Among the scattered immortal foundations mistaken for substitutes, there are many fallen Daoist traditions. If it weren't for the renowned Duanmu Kui emerging in Jiangnan, cultivators would still be considering Huaiyin Ghosts as wood-virtue substitutes, believing this path to be entangled with Lesser Yin and incapable of producing great talents."

"Precisely!" Su Mian laughed heartily: "As long as the cultivation method is powerful, how could the immortal foundation be poor?"

All three laughed. Cultivation methods and magical arts were the most precious things, and all three had experienced this firsthand. Unless under extremely special circumstances, no family would take their jade slips (containing techniques) outside; they would even destroy them before their sect was wiped out... If the Li clan hadn't had the Immortal Mirror to transmit methods, they would still be cultivating the "River Qi Art" to this day.

"No wonder it's called the Metropolitan Immortal Sect; it's the 'Metropolis' of the Metropolitan Guards. What are the mysteries of its divine abilities?"

Su Mian lowered his head to drink tea, while Chang Xi said:

"During the Foundation Establishment stage, it's merely about mountain and water malevolent energies. But upon reaching the Purple Mansion, one can command spirits and subdue evil, using the subtlety of spiritual arts to counter enemies. What's more, the Metropolitan Guard is not considered deviant among ancient merging methods; even thunder and heavenly light are not its natural enemies."

Li Ximing noted this down while also trying to inquire about Ye Hui's divine abilities. He had asked Chang Xi beforehand, but Chang Xi didn't know. He subtly probed a couple of times, but Su Mian refused to disclose.

'I wonder if he genuinely doesn't want to say more, or if he's afraid of getting involved in the two families' affairs... He is an old True Lord, after all, very cautious.'

The three chatted for a while. The cold rain in the courtyard grew heavier, falling chillingly, dripping from the eaves. The scent of tea diffused. A person approached from outside the courtyard and respectfully announced through the door:

"Reporting, True Lords! Daoist Minghuang has broken through the various riverside peaks of the Miyun Sect, personally slaying Pingyangzi of Tan Shuiqiu. He has now advanced deep into their territory. The Mianfan territory is shaken, and cultivators have already mobilized from Baiye Creek!"

"Good," Chang Xi said, counting on his fingers to calculate the time and distance. He calculated the time Li Zhouwei would break the formation and chuckled:

"As expected of the Li clan's White Qilin! Now Ye Hui will have to make a move!"

Li Ximing stroked his beard and smiled, sighing inwardly:

"Sitting in the courtyard, brewing tea in the cold rain, leisurely chatting about trivial matters; yet beneath the shadows of our robes, pawns and generals march, breaking formations, slaying enemies, manipulating millions of people. A Foundation Establishment cultivator, a dignified master of a region, becomes mere leverage for merit. All cultivators rely on the hegemon of a river, who is no more than a defensive wall or a beacon..."

"This is the Purple Mansion... This is what the Purple Mansion truly means!"

Li Ximing had not forgotten the times when his ancestors drifted along under the shadows of numerous Purple Mansion cultivators, acting as mere pawns against enemies. From Li Tongya first raising his head in Huaqian Mountain to Li Qinghong flying alone into the East Sea, he recalled how the Li family had propelled him to this position.

'To trade the freedom of divine abilities for the merit of peace for a myriad of households.'

Li Ximing finished his tea and, with Chang Xi, rose to take their leave. Su Mian knew they were going to the Baijiang Creek region, so he didn't press them to stay. He simply had Qiu Xin escort them out. This young man was likely a current in-law of the Kong family, and very close to Chang Xi.

As soon as Li Ximing left the courtyard, Qi Qiuxin spoke, bowing to Li Ximing and respectfully saying:

"There is something I must return to True Lord."

He took an item from his sleeve, bowed, and held it out in his hands. It was a small, purple tripod with two handles and three legs, adorned with intricate patterns, faintly wreathed in flickering flames.

Etched upon the tripod were four small, elegantly rendered characters:

"Shengle Tuoba."

He dared not wait for Li Ximing to ask, and respectfully explained:

"Years ago, when our temple was still in the East Sea, this humble cultivator accepted an invitation from Xi Chang of the Pure Unity Dao to subdue demons near the mouth of Salt Lake. Unexpectedly, we encountered a noble cultivator practicing lightning arts. We did not trouble her much and let her go, but an old man was left behind."

"He was killed by the Pure Unity Dao, but I kept this item. Now, I bring it to return to you, True Lord, to conclude the matter."

Li Ximing actually remembered this incident. That old man was Yu Yuwei of the Yu family, whom Li Xizhi had mentioned; he was also the maternal uncle of Li Quantao of Qingchi. Qi Qiuxin, or rather Su Mian, unclear of the exact relationship, had returned the item.

Li Ximing casually took it, and replied:

"This belongs to a cultivator of the Yu family. If I have the chance, I will hand it over to his relatives."

Chang Xi watched cheerfully. With his sharp eyes, he immediately noticed that Qi Qiuxin was injured, and asked:

"How did you get injured?"

Qi Qiuxin respectfully replied:

"To answer True Lord, the spiritual mine at Quanyuan Ferry was taken over by a school of Xushui Bass from the sea. I intervened to save people and was injured..."

"Oh," Chang Xi replied. "Those Xushui Demonic Bass have some backing; they frequently cause trouble. You've had a tough time."

Li Ximing now understood the implication. He showed no reaction on his face, only scoffed inwardly:

"They're probably hinting at something, but my family truly has no connection to the Dragon Clan! Xushui Demonic Bass or whatever... what can I do about them!"

**Miyun Cave Territory.**

Miyun Cave was slightly northeast of Fuyun Cave, situated downstream. The terrain was clearly more varied, no longer covered solely by rolling hills; there were flat plains and several towering peaks, making it a good territory.

After passing Tan Shuiqiu at the border, several bustling and lively cities came into view. Li Zhouwei soared through the sky on light, his cape fluttering. His armor glinted brightly. He held a large halberd horizontally, while his other hand carried a grimacing head.

Pingyangzi was an East Sea demonic cultivator of decent strength, at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. He was stronger than Wen Yi. The mountain was merely protected by a Qi Cultivation grand formation. With Li Cheng, Li Minggong, and others surrounding him, he naturally had nowhere to escape, neither into the sky nor the earth, and Li Zhouwei took his life with a single halberd strike.

Now that they had passed Tan Shuiqiu, the group had advanced deep into enemy territory. The cities below were in chaos. Li Cheng looked on with some regret, lamenting:

"These cities were quite well-managed. It's a pity we don't have the resources to take them over. Our priority should be to attack the main peak first."

Li Zhouwei nodded, made a rough calculation, and said in a deep voice:

"Miyun has plundered Fuyun's population, and they haven't had time to process them. Including their original populace, there should be over a million people. That's a significant number."

Population was still quite important to the Li family, especially large families that had produced Foundation Establishment cultivators. The Li family had never been short of Nascent Qi and Miscellaneous Qi cultivators, but at the Foundation Establishment level, talent was scarce. They couldn't even manage their own, which was why they risked employing individuals like Qu Bushi.

Furthermore, large Foundation Establishment families not only had the potential for Foundation Establishment guest cultivators, but could also consistently provide righteous Qi Cultivation cultivators at the mid and late stages. These were the backbone figures capable of overseeing a region, unlike the current Li family, where late-stage Qi Cultivation cultivators could be counted on less than two hands, and were either frail with age or direct descendants.